Brownsville, Texas, may be most recognizable for its connection to a certain trillionaire-backed space program, but it recently received a more down-to-earth laurel. The modestly sized city nestled on the western Gulf Coast of South Texas is also home to the best drivers in the U.S.
For the second year in a row, Allstate — the fourth-largest American auto insurer — has named Brownsville as the city with the safest drivers, based on claims data and time between accidents. Allstate examined claims data and information from its Drivewise telematics program to evaluate the safety of the 200 largest American cities.
The insurer found that drivers in Brownsville went the longest time between accidents — nearly 15 years on average. Brownsville drivers are also nearly 28% less likely to get into a crash than the national average.
In contrast, Boston drivers averaged 3.76 years between collisions, making it the most accident-prone city. Drivers there are 189% more likely to get into a crash than the national average.
10 cities with the safest drivers
Allstate’s data points to 10 cities where drivers go the longest between accidents. Brownsville topped the list as the safest city for the second year in a row.
Here are the safest cities and their average full-coverage car insurance costs, based on Insurify quote data.
Most of the cities Allstate named as among the safest also have average car insurance rates that are below the national average cost of full coverage. In fact, only Brownsville, Laredo, and Colorado Springs have average rates higher than the national average full-coverage cost of $186, Insurify data shows.
10 cities with the worst drivers
Unsurprisingly, cities that had the fewest years between collisions are generally more densely populated, have more roadways, and are more likely to have distracted drivers behind the wheel, Allstate reported. For example, Boston, which Allstate tagged as the city with the worst drivers, has a population density nearly 10 times Brownsville’s.
Here are the riskiest cities, per Allstate’s report:
Where risky driving habits hit hardest
Through its Drivewise telematics program, Allstate identified cities, states, and regions where certain risky driving habits are prevalent.
Big cities like Miami, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Boston have the highest rates of phone use while driving, Allstate found. Speeding is most common in Bridgeport (Connecticut), Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and Chicago. The Alabama cities of Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile also have high rates of speeders.
And although both states have lower-than-average car insurance costs, North Carolina ($114 per month for full coverage) and Arizona ($163 per month) have the highest rates of hard braking. Instances are particularly high in cities like Raleigh, Fayetteville, and Durham in North Carolina, and Chandler, Glendale, Tempe, Mesa, and Gilbert in Arizona.
What’s next: How drivers can reduce risk and insurance costs
“You don’t have to overhaul your driving habits to make a difference,” Laura Hoffman, Allstate’s vice president of auto design and telematics, said in a release on the insurer’s website. “Simple steps like slowing down, staying focused, and giving yourself space can go a long way in helping reduce risk.”
“While your location does affect your car insurance costs, your driving record is often the most critical factor influencing how much you’ll pay,” said Matt Brannon, Insurify’s senior economic analyst. “Drivers can keep their rates down by obeying speed limits, keeping a safe distance so they don’t need to brake hard, and avoiding distractions behind the wheel.”